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A Running Man

“Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes.” Robert M. Hutchins

A running man? … Who?

Me. I can sprint as fast as Usain Bolt. At least it felt that way the other day when I had an opportunity to put my legs through their paces.

When I damaged my medial ligament I discovered a new source of pain. The healing was slow, hurting like a toothache-of-the-knee any time it had a spot of exercise.

Ready… Steady…

The day of my sprint arrived in the big Ferrytoll Park-and-Ride at the north of the Forth Bridge, near Edinburgh. I spotted the express bus to Edinburgh coming in close behind me with an adrenalin surge. My juices flowed.

For the first time ever, I found a parking space within fifty yards of the terminal. With it came the opportunity to catch the transport and get back on schedule. Only one hassle, walking wasn’t an option. …

The Accelerative Man

What happened? A hardwired response.

Without thought, I accelerated to a moderate, slightly lopsided lumber. The driver couldn’t see me for the terminal building.

People, even older than me, rushed from a drop-off space—blockers—hastening to maximum crawl at about a quarter of my velocity. The bus’s rear stuck out past the building, a lumpen mechanical pointer to the finish-line.

A gap appeared in the surging, breathless, herd of humanity. I hurtled through and made the corner of the wall in time to see the doors close. And then …

I found another gear and accelerated! Lopsided no more. Moving close to the side of the bus I gazed at the driver via his mirror … OH NO! an obstruction …

Tip-toe Through the Ancients

An ancient woman, almost level with the front, gave up red-faced and puffing. I slalomed round her then, dashed mirror-wards once more. I caught the driver’s eye, no leader of a staggering charge. He lowered his head, rolled his eyes … and let me on.

Another five or six ageing sprinters, including the red-faced ancient, and all the blockers, marshalled themselves behind me. The man at the wheel didn’t return my smile and cheerful greeting. Schedules are what they are, I suppose.